whats the best way to clean aluminum wheels?
 

i just came into a set of 83 le wheels in flawless condition. the only bad spots are where the old weights were, how should i clean that up? what polish do you guys recomend? powder coat????? there is a guy in K.C. who does it but i dont know what he charges, whats a strait price to have this done? i was gona have the spokes done in black and polish the inside. anybody done this and have pics they can post? word, thanks.
oh yea, i sprayed them down with some black magic brake dust cleaner and they shined up a bit. :D

wheels
 

1st try napa's aluminum brightner. After that use 0000 steel wool and finish with
mothers mag. rx7doctor

As usual, the Doctor is right on. Mothers IS the good stuff.

Also, remember that scotch brite pads come in 0, 00, 000, and 0000. Will not load up or be as messy as steel wheel potentially can. I also use it to keep my glass showroom fresh. It can also be use on a palm sander if the application requires it.

The '83 LE wheels are painted, which rules out using scotch-brite or abrasive pads unless you're gonna completely re-finish them.

When you figure it out my Z wheels need a total make-over.

I thought z cars had wire hubcaps ???

use some pure acetone......pour on let sit for about 10 minutes....rub kinda hard with rag and it takes even the toughest of stuff off....the old clear coat..........gone, the paint i had put on them temporarily...............gone, then just use some kind of aluminum polish like mothers to shine them up real nice....will be perfect

Mothers is probably the best there is, although I like Blue Magic as well.

Will Mothers work with wheels that still have the clear coat on them, e.g. without damaging the clear coat?

Of course not.

For painted or clearcoated wheels you want to use a non-abrasive, non-solvent type cleaner.
(Not acetone)

More along the lines of a soap or detergent.

Mothers
 

Mothers will not harm the clear coat. It takes alot to remove clear coating. If the clear coating is damaged which in most cases it is. Then get Aircraft stripper and use a pressure washer to remove the clear coating. you can also use the scotch
brite pads, fine grit to help remove it. Then buff them out with mothers. rx7doctor

Hmm, so aircraft stripper takes the clear coat right off? Where can I buy this stuff?

All depends on the Z. A lot of them had slotted mags installed at the dealership.

I use Scotch-Brite lubricated with penetrating oil to clean away corrosion. Not permanent, but it looks a hell of a lot better than the corrosion does.

- Pete (my friend's 240Z has slotted mags... the bastard!)

Stripper
 

Usually at places like orchard/osh, seen it a kragens, Walmart. Comes in a blue and white container. Either by the gallon or by aerosol. Wear gloves though, it hurts like the dickens on you hands. rx7doctor

if you have bare aluminum, not clear coated. the easiest and beest way to clean them is with a solution of water and phosphoric acid. mix anywhere from 10:1 to 20:1 water to acid . brush on the aluminum with a brush, or scrub pad let soak for a few minutes and rinse. simple easy and cheap.